14' Rapid Robert Boat Trailer

Hi All,

I am just finishing my boat, a Rapid Robert 14, following plans from Drift Boats and River Dories.

 

The problem I have is sourcing a trailer in Arkansas.  I have searched these forums and there is some advice, but I am in a quandary nevertheless.

 

What do you feel is the best way to source a trailer:

1.  Drive to Colorado (800 miles) and buy one from a boat dealer.

2.  Find plans and build from scratch (I have never welded before).

3.  Modify an ATV trailer.

4.  Use a Lowe's general purpose trailer.

 

I have had a drift boat most of my life so I am familiar with trailers.  But I have never stepped out of the mainstream so need some perspective on what will work.

 

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Permalink Reply by Mike Crouch on August 13, 2011 at 10:08am

I am in a similiar situation.  I am looking for a drift boat trailer here in the Denver area and there seems to be few options for drift boat specific trailers without driving to Idaho/Montana.  I did, however, discover that Boulder Boatworks (in Boulder, CO.) does carry trailers. If you go to their website you can find two trailers offered. As I am on a tight budget, I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts or experience with the Shoreland'r drift boat trailers that are offered.

 

Your boat looks great!

Permalink Reply by Andreas Met on August 15, 2011 at 12:35pm

Thanks for the reply and idea with Hyde.  I called them and they can do a delivery from Idaho falls.  The issue is it takes them some time to consolidate orders and so lead time is 4 to 6 weeks.  Price is $1,450 + $600/$700 for shipping.

 

That's too long to wait, hopper fishing on the White River will be over by then.

 

Thanks again!

Permalink Reply by Jonathan Clarke on August 13, 2011 at 12:06pm

Cute, cute boat.  I have a 14' Tatman boat that cant' weigh much more than your boat.  I converted a conventional boat trailer with cross bunks by removing the existing hardware, cutting the frame short and adding a roller across the back.  It has leaf springs rather than a torsion axle like most "real" drift boat trailers, so it sits a little high, but it has served me faithfully for a number of years with no problems at all, other than the aesthetics of it, I guess.  I mentioned boat weight because I don't know if I'd try this with a big boat, but on the other hand, a drift boat trailer may be overkill for you.  Here's a link to a pretty lousy picture of it taken on the way to the Big Horn:

 

http://www.woodenboatpeople.com/photo/trekking-through-north-dakota...

 

Permalink Reply by Scott Hepler on August 13, 2011 at 12:23pm
I have had the same problem being in Missouri. However I have built two boats and modified two standard boat trailers and they have been just fine for the past 12 years. I found a local guy who buys wrecked boats and he parts them out and sells the boat parts and trailers on cragslist. I purchesed the last trailer for $200, I just cut off the standard bunks that held an 18 foot Mariah boat. I put on a couple of cross pieces and decked it with cca and added a roller on the back. I use it for my drift boat as well as a 16' cataraft. It is a overbuilt for a driftboat but it pulls awesome. Here is a link http://gallery.me.com/scotthepler/100220/IMG_1409 to the picture.

Scott
Permalink Reply by Andreas Met on August 15, 2011 at 12:36pm

I think this is a good idea and will explore looking for a John Boat trailer tomorrow when the local boat store is open.  You did a great job on your trailer.

 

Thanks for the response.

Permalink Reply by Dave Z on August 14, 2011 at 7:22am

Love it.  Nice work!

 

A buddy of mine has been using a modified utility trailer for 8 years.  No problems.  Has taken it on LONG trips too.

 

I got lucky with mine- I called Hyde when they had a shop in Michigan (I'm in PA).  They were headed to the big flyfishing show in New Jersey.  They stuck a used trailer on the truck, I met them on the Turnpike 30 miles away.

 

Try this-  Surely in Ark, you have a Bass pro shops nearby.  They are a Hyde dealer.  See when they are making a delivery from ID and buy a Hyde trailer, have them deliver to a Bas Pro or Cabelas.  They will do it, A friend did it this way.

 

Good luck.  Love the red boat.

 

Permalink Reply by Dave Barnes on August 15, 2011 at 12:11pm

I just finished building a drift boat. For the trailer, I found a flatbed 5 x 8 utility trailer. I replaced all the planks of the deck and mounted a front and rear cross piece to support the ends. You can buy thin polypro "cutting boards" which are just thin sheets of slippery plastic which I wrapped around the cross pieces and screwed in the back so the boat would slide on easily. The rear crosspiece is actually mounted using big post hinges like you would find on a driveway gate or something, so it actually pivots a little so it will rest flat side against the boat bottom. I could not find a wide roller anywhere, so believe it or not, I mounted 7 plastic bedframe rollers (each roller is about 3in wide) and tacked on the thin furring strip of wood along the bottoms so they would not spin around. The thing works great! I am able to push the bow onto the roller and winch the boat on the rest of the way.  I found a boat trailer winch post online and the whole thing cost me about $375, mostly because I bought nice wood to refinish the deck with. see attached.

 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Andreas Met on August 15, 2011 at 12:42pm

Wow, you did an amazing job on both the boat and the trailer.  My boat feels like a Frankenstein in comparison (but it's MY Frankenstein).

 

I assume the painting is on the scarf joint.  I was just planning to leave my primitive scarf joint for all to see.  It's re-enforced with 9oz. nylon and epoxy, so it would be hard to cover anyway.

 

I think the utility trailer will be the way I go, assuming I don't find a good John Boat trailer instead.

 

Is the pulley in front clamped or weleded?

 

Thanks again for the idea.

Permalink Reply by Dave Barnes on August 15, 2011 at 1:46pm

no welding. I just bought a couple of metal straps to mount the bow stop. The post comes predrilled for mounting the winch. The winch was something like $11 at Harbor freight tools. you can google "winch post" to find it. I can't remember where i got it. Yes, the fish is done over the butt joint (not scarf). I used epoxy pigments, not paint, so it's actually in the epoxy. Quite frankly, I am pretty sloppy with paints, glues epoxies etc, so it looks much better from far away.

 

db

Permalink Reply by David Loy on April 12, 2012 at 9:49am

This is a late post I realize but maybe it helps.

I have a Rapid Robert (aka McKenzie 14) from Ray's River Dories (Portland Oregon), purchased with a trailer from Baker Trailers, also in Oregon. It's plenty strong for a boat as light as yours but they know how to set it up such that when it arrives, it would fit perfectly. Great trailer but I realize shipping from Oregon to Arkansas might be a deal breaker.

Just 2 cents.

David

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